Coral Gables Delayed Miracle Mile “Streetscape”
November 4, 2017 Leave a comment
The project has been greatly delayed and the City of Coral Gables continues to provide optimistic reports about the benefits of the project and the closing date. Casual observers have suggested that there are a number of issues with the project.
- Parking will continue to be a big problem with high cost valet parking and limited easy access space in parking garages. Street parking will be negligible. Parking has always been limiting factor in the development of Miracle Mile, and this project should make it even worse as parking has been reduced by 75%.
- Except for the pedestrian walk for the restaurant section, benefiting exclusively owners there (accompanied by more lost parking), the benefits of the project are not yet evident. Very little actual additional space has been added to the pedestrian sidewalks along Miracle Mile, which appear as narrow as before. The limited parallel parking is an eye sore.
- Miracle Mile businesses are relative unattractive and a low value compared to (say) Merrick Park. Many are one-stop shops rather than being part of an larger shopping and spending experience. It will be a long time, if ever, for the “streetscape” change the low value businesses (with some exceptions) that are there now.
The benefits of this costly project seem to have been greatly oversold. Residents will end up paying for a disproportionate share of the cost.
The poor management of the City of Coral Gables is in full display in this long delayed capital project.
About Stephen E. McGaughey
Coral Gables Watch 